Strong box



STRONG BOX Filed Oct. 22, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR ELBERT V.ABBOTT .5 v. ABBOTT STRONG BOX Filed Oct. 22, 19 64 3 Sheets-Sheet 2FIGZ FIG.4

IN VENTOR ELBERT ABBOTT E. V. ABBOTT STRONG BOX 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 FiledOct. 22, 1964 R m. M V M ELBERT v ABBOTT BY W M om ww m om Dom mm 9 0 mmJ N9 Q9 J 0 nmu Q & 1 w ow a m Q .1. A A mp nm m W@ N@ ww qw ON UnitedStates Patent 3,268,158 STRONG BOX Elbert V. Abbott, 69 Vicksburg St.,San Francisco, Calif. Filed Oct. 22, 1964, Ser. No. 405,808 4 Claims."(CL 232-1) The present invention relates to boxes such as are used ascoin collection devices on parking lots and the like. Boxes of this typeare targets for burglary and vandalism and must, therefore, be strong toresist attempts to break them open. On the other hand they must be easyto open by authorized personnel so that an attendant serving severalparking lots may collect the accumulated coins in a minimum of time. I

It is an object of my invention to provide a box of the type referredto, that may readily be opened by authorized personnel but isvandal-proof when closed.

More particularly it is an object of the invention to provide a strongbox which cannot be pried open when closed.

Another object of the invention is to provide a strong box which has adoor whose hinges are concealed from the outside and cannot be knockedoff when the door is closed.

These and other objects of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing description of the accompanying drawings which illustrate apreferred embodiment thereof and wherein FIGURE 1 is a perspective of astrong box embodying my invention in open position;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary horizontal section through the strong boxtaken along line 22 of FIGURE 1 and viewed in the direction of thearrows associated with said line;

FIGURES 3 and 4 are fragmentary horizontal sections similar to FIGURE 2,showing different angular positions of the body portion of the boxrelative to a back plate;

FIGURE 5 is a horizontal section similar to FIGURES 2 to 4 illustratingthe box in closed and locked condition.

The strong box of the invention comprises a base or back plate ofrounded rectangular shape which is made from a heavy material, and ispreferably cast from a suitable metal alloy. On its front side the plate10 is provided with an integral rim that extends along its top and sideedges as shown at 14, 16a and 16b, respectively, and forms an inwardlyopen U-shaped channel. The bottom edge of the plate 10 is arcuate andcarries a forwardly projecting trough 18 which has a concave floor. Aheaded screw bolt 26 passing through an aperture in the floor of thetrough serves to secure the plate 10 to a suitable post or pedestalwhich is indicated at 28 in FIGURE 1.

Hingedly supported from the inner face of the back plate 10 along anarea parallel to but a distance removed from the left side channel 16ais the left side of the body portion of the box, which has the form of atray 30 of rectangular conformation and is likewise made of a heavymaterial, such as cast metal alloy. In the exemplary embodiment of theinvention illustrated in the accompanying drawings, the tray 30 houses acoin collection mechanism, and for this purpose its front wall 32 isprovided with juxtaposed rows of vertically superposed, horizontallydisposed slots 34 which lead into individual compartments 36 arrangedadjacent the rear surface of said front wall 32. Each compartment has afloor 38 that is yieldably held in a horizontal position and upon whichcoins deposited through the slots 34 may accumulate. An operator who hasaccess to the interior of the box may simultaneously tilt the floors 38of all the compartments 36 downwardly by manipulation of a crank handle40, to discharge all the coins accumulated in the compartments 36 into atrough 42 that is provided below the compartments and above the bottomwall 44 of the tray. From said trough the coins may readily be collectedby the operator. The rear walls of all the compartments are formed by asheet of transparent material 46 that bears opposite each compartment anidentifying number which corresponds with an identifying number that maybe provided on the front face of the tray adjacent each of the coinreceiving slots 34. Thus, upon opening the strong box an attendant maysee at a glance which parking stalls have been paid for.

The left side wall 50a of the tray 30 is provided with an outwardlydirected longitudinally extending lip 52, and a shallow longitudinallyextending recess 54 is provided in the outer edge of the right side wall50b of said tray; and hingedly supported from the inner surface of saidside wall 50b is an elongated latch plate 56 of L-shaped crosssectionalcontour. Spring means indicated at 58 yieldably hold said latch plate 56in a position wherein its free end 60 extends intothe recess 54 in theside wall 50b of the tray, but does not project beyond the outer surfaceof said side wall. The left side wall 50a of the tray is hingedlyconnected to the back plate 10 in such a manner that the tray may berotated from a position wherein its front wall is substantially at rightangles to the plane defined by the base plate (FIGURE 2) to a positionwherein its front wall is parallel to and the outer edges of its sidewalls lie closely adjacent to the back plate, the outwardly turned lip52 on its left side is fully engaged in the left side channel 16a of theback plate, and the free end 60 of the latch member 58 is aligned withthe right side channel 16b of the back plate 10. (FIGURES 4 and 5.)

For this purpose the inner surface of the back plate forms a ledge 62extending vertically a distance inwardly removed for the channel section16a of the back plate 10. Rigidly secured to said ledge 62 such as bymeans of screws 64, is one bar-shaped leaf 66 of a two hinge 68, and theother bar-shaped leaf 70 of said hinge 68 is rigidly secured a leaf 72of a second two leaf hinge 74. The other lea-f 76 of said second hinge74- is rigidly secured to a leaf 78 of yet another two leaf hinge 8t)and the other leaf 82 of said third hinge 88 is rigidly tconneoted, suchas by means of screws, to the outer or bottom surface of the lip- 52along the edge of the left side wall 50a! of the tray '30 in such aposition that the loopsand the pin of the hinge are located within thetray 30 adjacent the edge of the inner surface of said left side wall50m The described connection between the bottom face of the outwardlyturned lip 52 of tray 30* and the ledge 62 on the inner surface of thebase plate 10 by three series-connected hinges makes it possible toswing the tray 30 from an open position wherein its left side wall 50wbears against the outer flange 15a of the left side channel 16a of baseplate 10 and wherein it is fully exposed to view by, and readilyaccessible to, an operator (FIGURES 1 and 2), into a position whereinthe tray is fully closed 'by the back plate 10, and its sides 50a and50b lie closely adjacent to the inner edges of the outer side flanges15a and 15b, respectively, of the side channels 16a and 16b of the backplate 10, and its lip 52 engages the left side channel 16a while therecess 54 in its right side wall Sub is aligned with the right sidechannel 16b of the back plate 10.

When the body 'of the box is in the fully open position illustrated inFIGURES 1 and 2, the leaves 72 and 76 of the floating center hinge 74define an acute angle and resemble a bent knee, with the leaf 76extending in a plane substantially parallel to the inner surface of theback plate 10. The leaves of the outer hinge 80 adjacent the lip 52 onthe left side 52a of the tray 30 extend substantially at right angles toeach other and the leaves of the inner hinge 68 on ledge 62 of the backplate 10 define an acute angle of the same size as, but facing in adirection opposite, to the angle defined by the blades of the centerhinge 74.. To close the box, the attendant grips an car 86 providedalong the outer surface of the right side 50b of the tray 30 (FJGURES 1,2 and 4) and initially swings the tray through a limited arc incounterclockwise direction, as viewed from the top, into the positionillustrated in FIGURE 3. In this position the hinge 80 has movedsomewhat to the right and closer to the back plate .10 its leaves definean angle of 180, the edge of lip 52. is almost in contact with the innersurface of the back plate 10, the center hinge 74 has moved somewhat tothe left and farther away from the back plate 10 so that the knee formedby its leaves 72 and 76 is bent more acutely and the movable leaf of theinner hinge 68 forms an obtuse angle with the back plate 10". Theattendant now urges the tray '30 toward the back plate 10 whilecontinuing its clockwise rotation. This brings the hinge 80 closer tothe front surface of the back plate 10 and turns its leaves 78 and 82 sothat they form an oppositely facing obtuse angle. Thus, the knee formedby the leaves of the floating center hinge 7 4 is bent into a still moreacute angle (FIGURE 4). Further clockwise rotation of the tray whileurging it to the left stretches the knee formed by the leaves 76 and 72of the floating hinge 74, places the left side wall 52a of the tray 30close to the edge of the outer flange 15a: of the left side channel 16mand moves its outwardly turned lip 52 fully behind the flange 15a ofsaid channel (FIGURE The leftward shift in the final phase of thedescribed box closing operations bringsthe right side wall 52b of thetray into a position within the confines of the inner edge of the outerflange 15b of side channel 166! so that the tray is now located between,and fits snugly into the space defined by and between the edges of theside flanges 15a and 1512, respectively. In this position the recess 54in the edge of the right side wall 52b of the tray 30 is subberged belowthe outer flange 15b of the right side channel 16b and is aligned withthe interior of said channel. At the same time the top wall 88 of thetnay lies closely below the bottom edge of the outer flange 92 of thechannel section-9'4 formed by the rim of the back plate along its topedge; and the bottom wall 95 of the tray lies closely adjacent the upperouter edge 96 of the trough 18 formed by the back plate 10.

To place the latch 56 on the inner surface of the side wall 521: of tray10 into a position wherein its latching end 60 projects into the rightside channel 16b of the back plate 10 and thus makes it impossible towithdraw the tray from the back plate, a hole 98 is provided in the backplate 10 of the box, and securely anchored in said hole is a look 99which permits rotation of a cylinder 100 by means of the proper key(FIGURE 5). Said cylinder 100 protrudes a limited distance intotheinterior of the box and carries upon its inner end a camming member 102which is initially located behind the latch member 56- in its retractedposition when the tray 30 is closed upon the back plate 10. By turningthe cylinder 100' by means of the proper key, the c amming member 102engages the rear surface of the latch member 56 and swings it againstthe urgency of spring means 58 into a position wherein its latching end60 is projected into the channel 16b behind the outer flange b thereof.

With the lip 52 engaged behind the outer flange 15a of the left sidechannel 16a and the latching end of member 56 held in engagement withthe right side channel 16b, it is impossible to open the box. It is alsoimpossible to burglarize the box by knocking off its hinges, because allhinges are safely sheltered in the cast metal enclosure formed by theback plate and the tray, and are complete ly inaccessible from theoutside. Moreover, it is difficult, if not impossible, to pry the boxopen because with the solid cast metal tray held tightly in the solidframe formed by the cast metal back plate .10 and its integral rim andtrough, the closed box presents to the potential burglar no parts ormembers that will bend; and when a crow bar is forced into the narrowinterstice between the side wall-s of thetray 3t} and the rim of theback plate 10, the bar meets with the immovable rigidity of the castmetal parts of the box. It, therefore, can neither bend the cast metalparts of the box nor exert indirectly a destructive force against themore vulnerable hinge connections within the box until and unless thecast metal parts of the strong box are actually shattered. This,however, takes a stronger force than can be exerted with a crow bar byeven a strong man, and if a sledge hammer were used, this would causeconsiderable noise.

While I have described my invention with the aid of a particularembodiment thereof, it will be understood that the invention is notlimited to the specific constructional details illustrated and describedby way of example, which may be departed from without departing from thescope and spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. A strong box comprising a plate having confronting first and secondchannels formed along opposite sides thereof, a tray having oppositelylocated first and second side walls spaced from each other to fit intothe space defined by and between said first and second channels, saidfirst side wall having an outwardly turned lip formed along its bottomedge and said second side wall having a recess, latch means hingedlysupported adjacent said second side wall, plural series-connected hingemeans interposed between, and having their opposite ends secured,respectively, to said first side wall and an area of said plate topermit rotation of said tray from an open position into position whereinsaid first and second side walls thereof are located at right angles tosaid plate and intermediately of said first and second channels.

2. A strong box comprising a plate having confronting first and secondchannels formed along opposite sides thereof, a tray having oppositelylocated first and second side walls spaced from each other to fit snuglyinto the space defined by and between said first and second channels,said first side wall having an outwardly turned lip formed along itsbottom edge and said second side wall having a recess, latch meanshingedly supported from said second side wall, plural series-connectedhinge means interposed between, and having their opposite ends secured,respectively, to the bottom edge of said lip and an area of said plateinwardly removed from said first channel to permit rotation of said traybetween an open position wherein said first side wall of said tray issubstantially parallel to said plate and adjacent to said first channelthereof and a closed position wherein said first and second side wallsthereof are located at right angles to said plate and intermediately tosaid first and second channels, with said lip extending into theinterior of said second channel; and key means operable from the outsideto force said latch means into a position wherein it projects throughsaid recess into the interior of said second channel.

3. A strong box comprising a plate of cast metal having first and secondintegral channels formed along opposite side edges thereof, a tray ofcast metal having oppositely located first and second side walls spacedfrom each other to fit snugly into the space defined by and between saidfirst and second channels, said first sidewall having an outwardlyturned longitudinally extending lip formed along its bottom edge andsaid second side wall having a longitudinally extending shallow recessformed in its bottom edge, latch means hingedly supported from V theinner surface of said second side wall for rotation from a retractedposition into a position wherein it projects through said recess, springmeans yieldably holding said latch means in said retracted positionthereof; plural series-connected hinge means interposed between andhaving their free ends secured respectively to the bottom edge of saidfirst side wall and said lip thereof and an area of said plate inwardlyremoved from said first channel to permit rotation of said tray betweenan open position wherein its side walls are substantially parallel tosaid plate and said first side wall lies adjacent to said first channeland a closed position wherein said first and second side walls arelocated at right angles to said plate and intermediately of, and closelyadjacent to, said first and second channels, respectively, with said lipextending into the interior of said first channel and said recess inalignment with the interior of said second channel, camming meansoperable to force said latch means into its projected position throughsaid slot into the interior of said second channel, and lock meansmounted in said plate and operable from without for actuating saidcarnming means when said tray is in said closed position thereof.

4. A strong box comprising a plate of cast metal having first and secondintegral channels formed along opposite side edges thereof, a tray ofcast metal having oppositely located first and second side walls spacedfrom each other to fit snugly into the space defined by and between saidfirst and second channels, said first side wall having an outwardlyturned lip formed along its bottom edge and said second side wall havinga longitudinally extending shallow recess formed in its bottom edge,latch means hingedly supported from the inner surface of said secondside wall for rotation from a retracted position into a position whereinit projects through said recess, spring means yieldably holding saidlatch means in said retracted position thereof; means for swinging saidtray from an open position wherein its side walls are substantiallyparallel to said plate and said first side Wal-l lies adjacent to saidfirst channel into a closed position wherein said first and second sidewalls are located at righ-t angles to said plate and intermediately andof closely adjacent to said first and second channels, respectively,

with said lip extending into the interior of said first channel and saidrecess being in alignment with the interior of said second channelincluding a double leaf hinge having one leaf rigidly connected to thebottom edge of said lip, 21 second double leaf hinge having a leafthereof rigidly connected to an area of said plate removed from saidfirst channel, and a third double leaf hinge having its leaves rigidlyconnected to the free leaves of said first and second hinges,respectively; can'nming means operable to force said latch means intoits projected position extending through said slot into the interior ofsaid second channel, and lock means mounted in said plate and operablefrom without for actuating said camming means when said tray is in saidclosed position thereof.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 82,658 9/1868Stuhlfrager 16-163 949,751 2/ 1910 Broughto-n 232-15 1,050,776 1/ 1913Lowrie 109-70 1,631,934 6/1927 Moifett 232-4 1,844,978 2/1932 Renaud16-163 1,905,082 4/1933 Wuebling 16-163 2,426,649 9/1947 Shann 232-162,580,401 1/ 1952 Br-oussard 232-7 2,591,271 4/1952 Levereth 220-342,695,195 11/1954 ODiay 220-34 3,026,023 3/1962 Hirschfeld 232-43,181,780 5/1965 Abbott 232-1 FRANK B. SHERRY, Primary Examiner.

FRANCIS K. ZUGEL, Examiner.

1. A STRONG BOX COMPRISING A PLATE HAVING CONFRONTING FIRST AND SECONDCHANNELS FORMED ALONG OPPOSITE SIDES THEREOF, A TRAY HAVING OPPOSITELYLOCATED FIRST AND SECOND SIDE WALLS SPACED FROM EACH OTHER TO FIT INTOTHE SPACE DEFINED BY AND BETWEEN SAID FIRST AND SECOND CHANNELS, SAIDFIRST SIDE WALL HAVING AN OUTWARDLY TURNED LIP FORMED ALONG ITS BOTTOMEDGE AND SAID SECOND SIDE WALL HAVING A RECESS, LATCH MEANS HINGEDLYSUPPORTED ADJACENT SAID SECOND SIDE WALL, PLURAL SERIES-CONNECTED HINGEDMEANS INTERPOSED BETWEEN, AND HAVING THEIR OPPOSITE ENDS SECURED,RESPECTIVELY, TO SAID FIRST SIDE WALL AND AN AREA OF SAID PLATE TOPERMIT ROTATION OF SAID TRAY FROM AN OPEN POSITION INTO POSITION WHEREINSAID FIRST AND SECOND SIDE WALLS THEREOF ARE LOCATED AT RIGHT ANGLES TOSAID PLATE AND INTERMEDIATELY OF SAID FIRST AND SECOND CHANNELS.